On Thin Ice Book 1: The Kennedy Rule by KC Carmichael

 

On Thin Ice Book 1

Twenty more minutes. That’s all I have left to prove that Connor Kennedy is no better than me. Again.

Captain of his team, the privileged son of a hockey legend, Connor Kennedy is the league’s golden boy. And the one player who can always get under my skin. Our rivalry has been building for years, and when we’re forced to room together as Olympic teammates, I can feel the tension between us reach boiling point.

The world might see me as hockey’s most feared enforcer, Alaska’s angriest export, but in our room each night after practice, I can’t maintain my facade.

Now, I can’t get Connor out of my mind for another reason, and this obsession could ruin us both.

But one thing I know for some rules are made to be broken.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241685713-the-kennedy-rule

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Connor Kennedy is known as the league’s golden boy. One would think the son of a hockey legend would be a great thing. But not for Connor. His father is controlling in every aspect of Connor’s life especially in Connor’s hockey career considering how tightly he is involved with Connor’s team. And in controlling Connor’s career and image, Connor tends to have some enemies. Little do they know that Connor is nothing like his father. One in particular is Gavin, a brutal enforcer in the league. And someone Connor could have been friends with back when they were teens and first met, but Connor’s made sure that wasn’t possible. Now, the two of them find themselves playing together for Team USA in this year’s Olympics. And in doing so, it may just open their eyes to the truth about one another. Especially when their chemistry not only comes to light on the ice but off it as well. Gavin’s protective instincts kick in about Connor in a way he never expected. He knows he is in trouble. But Connor may just be worth it. Loved these two! I love how hard these two fell for one another and in doing so really gave them the courage to be who they were and fight for who they love. Connor’s dad is the absolute worst and I loved that Connor was able to find a way to stand up to him and that everyone gathered around to bring him down. I really liked the group of characters we got and I’m looking forward to more in this series!

Vermont Trailblazers Book 2: Around and Around We Go by Amy Aislin

 

Vermont Trailblazers Book 2

When you’re facing The End, it’s time to rewind to the beginning.

At thirty-eight years old, Sandro Zanetti is quickly aging out of hockey. But the Trailblazers are chasing a history-making third consecutive championship this season, so until his knees fail him, he plans on giving his all to the sport.

What he doesn’t need is the documentary film crew following the team’s every move. Because the director? Is Bennett Jackson.

Former college sweetheart.

Breaker of hearts.

Still unbearably handsome.

But their relationship is also history and has been for fifteen years.

Bennett Jackson is one project away from the credits rolling on his career after his last film flopped. This behind-the-scenes look at the hottest team in the league is his last chance at redemption…and possibly his last chance at redeeming himself with the one man who’s always held his heart.

Neither of them planned for old jokes to resurface or on the inconvenient fact that their chemistry is very much alive.

But as the action heats up on and off the ice—and on and off camera—their reunion looks less like a rerun of heartbreak and more like a revival of that first chemistry.

And Sandro and Bennett may discover that some stories deserve a sequel.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241945648-around-and-around-we-go

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Sandro knows deep down his hockey career is coming to an end but he isn’t ready just yet to call it quits. Especially when he doesn’t know what he wants to do after he retires. And the last thing he needs is for a camera crew to come invade his team’s space while they make a documentary about them. Because while he keeps things close to the chest, part of that reason is because of the guy in charge of the documentary. Bennett. The man he loved when they were in college and had been together for four years before he suddenly ended it. Leaving Sandro heartbroken and confused and wondering what went wrong. Especially when Bennett became impossible to reach. But seeing Bennett again after fifteen years? His heart underneath the pain still tells him his feelings aren’t completely gone. Not yet. And the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist reigniting their connection. Bennett has never regretted letting Sandro get away. He knows he made a mistake back then. And he knows that he should have talked to Sandro about what he was dealing with rather than try and protect Sandro from Bennett’s own stress. Seeing Sandro again though? All Bennett wants is a chance to explain and maybe a second chance if Sandro will give him one. Adored these two! Your heart hurts for them knowing they were so young and had so much pressure on them and sadly their hearts were sacrificed for a bit. I loved that they had a second chance because it was clear how much they still loved one another and how perfect they were for one another. Loved jumping back into this series and getting to know more of the Trailblazers. Get ready for sweet romance and plenty of team shenanigans. Can’t wait for the next one!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Puckboys Book 10: Charming Puckboy by Eden Finley & Saxon James

 

Puckboys Book 10

LACHIE

It doesn’t matter that I was the number one draft pick in the NHL or that I’m projected to be the next great generational player, because none of it is enough to impress my childhood crush back in my hometown.

Sam used to mock me for being like a Disney Princess with my uncanny knack for finding animals in need. And being home in Colorado for the summer, I’m bound to run into him now that he runs the animal shelter where I used to volunteer. Where I used to try to get his attention every chance I had.

He never noticed me then, at least not in the way I wanted.

But if there’s one thing my time in the NHL has taught me, it’s how to fight for what I want.

SAM

It’s been a few years since I saw the Disney Princess volunteer, but when he brings in a stray cat, I almost can’t believe it’s the same guy.

Damn, has he changed.

Gone is the gangly, pimple-faced teen, and in his place is a man who’s grown up and bulked out. He used to follow me around, asking endless questions about animal care.

Now he’s back, but instead of asking about animals, he’s asking about me. About my life.

Flirting with me. And he’s good at it, too.

There’s something about Lachie that’s undeniably irresistible. I’m willing to give in to his charms, even knowing all he can offer is a summer fling.

Turns out, my Disney Princess grew up to be a real Prince Charming.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243390481-charming-puckboy

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s an end of an era! And what better way to end this series than with the final Kiki brother? Lachie might be the youngest of the Collective but it’s his time to fall in love. Lachie returns home for the summer and finds himself back at one of his favorite places: an animal shelter. There is a reason he’s been called a Disney Princess and that’s because every animal seems to find him and like him. There is no escaping. It’s how he found himself at the shelter when he was young and how earned the nickname by the guy he was crushing on who worked at the shelter…and still does. And this time, Lachie can act on his crush. Show Sam that he has grown up. Sam can’t believe that the teenager he remembers has grown up. And that there is now a spark between them. Sam is honestly clueless when it comes to exactly who Lachie is. So finding out that Lachie is a very successful NHL player was quite the surprise. But what was more of the surprise? That this thing between them where they agreed would only be for the summer feels like so much more. Sam has never felt this way before and the more time he spends with Lachie, the more he hates being apart from him. These two fell hard and fast. But as much as Lachie wishes he could be playing in Colorado, his team is in St. Louis and they aren’t letting him go anytime soon, not with how contracts work. I adored these two and felt so bad for them trying to figure out how a relationship could work between them when they are just getting started and how they can stand the distance and time apart. But I loved how in the end they figured out a plan and let their hearts guide them. They were a great couple to end the series on. Plus, it meant a good amount of cameos from others in the series! And a great finale of how the Collective will embrace its future. Great, great series! Absolutely adored it and I’m so sad to see it end. But it was just amazing all around! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Villain Book 2: Hunt the Villain by Rina Kent

 

Villain Book 2

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a standalone dark MM mafia rivals romance set in the world of Legacy of Gods.

I’m hunting a monster

The first time I met Yulian Dimitriev, it was hate at first sight.

He’s brash, chaotic, and a violence-junkie.

In short, everything I disregard.

As heirs to two notorious mafia organizations, we were shoved together in an unorthodox setting.

The more I learn about Yulian, the deeper my loathing seeps.

Until I truly see the person within, and something forbidden sparks between us.

But our coexistence is cut short when tragedy strikes.

Yulian and I go back to our respective, parallel worlds that shouldn’t cross.

But they do.

And once again, I’m dragged into the orbit of a man I shouldn’t want.

Two men can’t be together in our world.

But Yulian blurs every limit I thought existed until everything is in jeopardy.

Our hearts included.

Hunt the Villain is a male x male dark college romance. This book can be read as a standalone, but for a better understanding of the world, it's recommended to read Kiss the Villain first.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229204567-hunt-the-villain#SocialReviews

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I was so excited to read Vaughn and Yulian’s story, and I’m so happy it was just as good as I hoped it would be! Absolutely loved their story and loved these two. We’ve seen these two teased for a while and knew something was going on and now we finally get some answers. These two met when they were both thrown into a summer camp when they were around fifteen. Vaughn’s dad is a leader for the New York Bratva and Yulian’s is for Chicago. This so called camp was a way to forge an alliance. Vaughn and Yulian couldn’t be more opposite. Vaughn is the serious, smart kid who likes to follow the rules. Yulian is chaotic and all about breaking them. But when the two of them are attacked and on their own trying to survive it will forged a deeper connection than the one that had started to brew between them. But it will also leave them with some unanswered questions. We then jump to the present where Yulian is ready to be in Vaughn’s orbit again and doing whatever it takes to reel him in. And oh man, he definitely does. And even when these two give in to the connection between them, their future is uncertain. Especially when it comes to Yulian’s abusive father. Can they figure out to get the future they both more than deserve and want? I adored these two. They might be my favorite couple along with Niko and Bran. I just can’t decide between them LOL. I loved finally getting a chance to know them both and see how they finally get to be together after everything they’ve been through. I really devoured this book and couldn’t put it down until I was finished. And now I can’t wait for book three!

CEOs of Kink Book 1: Mister Van Doren by Crea Reitan

 

CEOs of Kink Book 1

Every secret has a dangerous consequence.

My son loses his damn mind when Bennett is injured in a hunting accident. This brings Doc Mark to my doorstep. It doesn’t take long to realize that Mark and I share something in common - kinks people only whisper about. 

We negotiate an arrangement to live out our secret fantasies while Mark nurses Bennett back to health. Those fantasies leave Mark with his defenses lowered, and when Mark is attacked, I learn that my son takes after his father far more than I would have thought.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246717664-mister-van-doren

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

For those who are familiar with the Van Doren family, you’ll know Auden. Father of Rhodes and the one everyone teases about having a revolving door of lovers. Though lately, that hasn’t been the case. So he is taken by surprise when Doc Mark arrives on his doorstep after Rhodes’s boyfriend has a bit of an accident and needs medical care. It’s like Auden is seeing Mark for the first time and suddenly they find themselves exploring their secret fantasies together. And Auden is…happy. Mark has always thought Auden was hot and exactly how he pictured his type of man. Mark doesn’t have time for actual relationships though. Being the doctor for the Van Doren family keeps him very busy. But when Rhodes’s becomes a little too paranoid about Bennett’s health, he finds himself sticking around longer. And in doing so he finds himself sharing a lot with Auden. Their relationship may start off one way, but I loved by the end that these two realize just how much more they mean to one another. Great story all around! Loving getting to know more about the Van Dorens and even Mark since he has appeared quite a lot. This was just a fun story all around with the little bit of danger you can always expect from a Van Doren featured book.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Lords of London Book 4: Vampires’ Shared Bride by Jessie Donovan

 

Dark Lords of London Book 4

A fae witch afraid of her magic is pulled from the present to the past and instantly bloods two vampires at once. Will they be able to help her embrace her powers while also winning her heart?

This will be Laurence "Laurie" Yates, Joseph Hope, and Meadow Vale's story and will be a full-length book. More detailed synopsis to come.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/159553397-vampires-shared-bride

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

It’s been a hot minute since I read the previous books in this series, but I am happy to say that once I started reading, it was so easy to fall back into this world and remember all the characters. This story follows Laurie, Joseph, and Meadow! Meadow is the sister of Yesenia and River who had previous books and were pulled back into the past. They are finally reunited with their younger sister, Meadow, who has been hiding from their father and his enemies. She never thought she would see her siblings again or when she did that she would end up blooded to not one but two vampires. Joseph and Laurie have always loved once another, but between their hearts stopping and feeling like they were incomplete, their relationship has halted over the years. But when Meadow arrives, they have hope again. Hope to love one another fully  and hope that Meadow is indeed the missing piece they have been waiting for all along. But as they get to know one another, danger lurks in the shadows. Can they claim the happy ending they all have been waiting for? Absolutely loved this story! I loved the relationship the three of them had and were building. I loved that Meadow slowly gained confidence in herself and in her magic that has never felt in her control. The three of them bring out the best in one another. And it was sweet to see them finally find the happiness they all deserved. Great story! You don’t want to miss it!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hart’s Landing by Melanie Harlow

 

Four friends made a promise to live one night like it was their last.

That night changed everything.

Ten years ago, Mila Ferguson fled Hart’s Landing with a devastating fire, a stolen kiss, and a shattered circle of friends in her wake. But when a crisis brings her home, Mila just wants to get in and get out, unscathed by her mother’s constant criticism and unseen by her former crush, Everett McKean.

Only...Everett is everywhere. The boy Mila once loved is now the town’s scorching hot, beloved mayor. And when he’s not serving his constituents or running the family farm, Everett is taking advantage of his second chance with Mila―the one who got away.

As Mila reconnects to her roots and opens her heart, she discovers that coming home again isn’t about where you’ve been―it’s about who you’re brave enough to become. But when old wounds threaten to open after questions emerge about what really happened the night Mila left, it’s that bravery that will finally set her free.

Sexy, heartfelt, and steeped in small-town charm, Hart’s Landing is a story of forgiveness, friendship, and finding the family who loves you no matter how far you wander.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241652009-hart-s-landing

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A great start to what I think will be a great series! Well, at least it better be a series because I see a lot of unfinished business and characters to explore. Mila and her closest friends meet together one night their senior year of high school to remember their best friend who died that year from cancer. Their meeting was about each of them fulfilling an important task set to them by their dear friend. For Mila, it meant telling the boy she liked how she feels. But the night instead ends with a fire that has her fleeing from Hart’s Landing for ten years. Now, she must return home to take care of her mother, a woman who has made it her job to critique Mila in every way possible. It will be a long six weeks. But coming also means facing the past, reconnecting with the friends she drifted from, and seeing the boy she liked. Everett is now the mayor of the town and when he sees Mila again, all the questions of what if come to surface. He has a second chance with Mila and he won’t screw it up. He’ll prove to Mila that he is nothing like her exes and that he will always been in her corner. But will she let him? Absolutely loved this story. It was so much fun getting to know a new town and cast of characters. I definitely spotted some potential couples and I loved getting to know Mila and Everett. I also loved Mila’s journey with herself. We see her find the strength and confidence to be herself and stand up for herself in a way she never believed she could. We get to see Everett find a love he never imagined he would want or have. And adored how these two fought for one another. Great, great story and I can’t wait for more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.